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Smoking status of e-cigarette users

Half (52.7%a) of ever users and a majority (64.5%b) of past 30-day users of e-cigarettes were current smokers, suggesting that dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes is high. Approximately one in five ever and past 30-day e-cigarette users were former smokers. One-quarter of ever users and 15.5% of recent users of e-cigarettes had never been a smoker, indicating interest among non-smokers (Figure 12.15; Figure 12.16). There were no differences between males and females in the percentages of ever or past 30-day users who were smokers (49.3%c vs. 58.0%d and 64.6%e vs. 64.3%f, respectively).170,171

The percentages of ever and past 30-day e-cigarette users who were current smokers were lowest among youth aged 15-19, increasing with age172, 173(Figure 12.17; Figure 12.18). Among youth aged 15-19, never smokers comprised the majority of ever (71.7%g) and past 30-day (60.5%h) e-cigarette users; among young adults aged 20-24, never smokers comprised 48.4%i and 30.6%j of ever and recent users, respectively. Never smokers comprised 29.8%k of ever users aged 25-34, but few recent users in this age group. E-cigarette use among never smokers over age 35 was rare.

Figure 12.17 and 12.18 Data tables with 95% confidence intervals

Figure 12.17: Percentage of ever e-cigarette users who were current smokers*, by age group, 2017